Torpedo-tube for submarines or the like.



M. F. HAY & G.'EKAMA.

TORPEDO TUBE FOR SUBMARINES OR THE LIKE.

' APPLICATION FILED szrnza. 1916.

1 04,353. Patented Nov. 7, 19-16.

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M. F. HAY & G. EKAMA.

TORPEDO TUBE FOR SUBMARINES OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATIONLFILED SEPT- 23.) 1916.

1 294,35 3 Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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TTNTTED PATENT @FFTQE.

MARLEY FOTI-IERINGHAM HAY AND GERRTT EKAIVIA, OF THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS.

TORPEDO-TUBE FOR SUBIVIARINES OR THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

Application filed September 23, 1916. Serial No. 121,864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MARLEY FOTHER- INGHAM HAY, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of The Hague, Netherlands, and GERRIT EK- a am, a subject of the Netherlands, and a resident of The Hague, Netherlands, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Connection with Torpedo-Tubes for Submarines and the like, of which the following is the specification.

The invention relates to torpedo tubes for submarines and the like, and has for its object to provide improved mechanism for opening and closing covers controlling the outside openings of such torpedo tubes, one single cover being used which effects water tight closure and adapts itself more or less to the lines of the ship, the torpedo tube being cut off at a slant.

The invention is preferably used for torpedo tubes situated at the bow or stern ofa V boat, and the improved arrangement is characterized by the torpedo tube being cut off in such a way that the end of the tube falls as much as possible in one line with the hull.

The opening of the tube is closed water tight by means of one single cover and the mechanism controlling the movement of same is situated between hand operating gear or an air cylinder, preferably arranged This mechanism is arranged in such a way that with the cover either in the opened or the closed position toggle action takes place so that no forces can be transmitted from the cover to the operating mechanism. This result is obtained by taking up the reaction of the cover in any of these extreme positions by one of the fixed turning points of the closing gear in such a way that the reaction goes through the center'of one of the turning points and thus no movement can be transmitted to the turning gear. The arrangement of the levers is such that the greatest power is exercised at the moment of the greatest resistance.

The invention is clearly shown on the inclosed drawings in which Figure 1 is a horizontal section of the bow with two or it may be four torpedo tubes. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the stern with two torpedo tubes. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cover and operating mechanism, while Fig. 1 is a plan of the cover with operating mechanism in open position in full lines, the closed position being shown by dotted lines.

As shown in the drawings the end of the torpedo firing tube 1 is cut off in a slanting direction and the elliptical opening formed thereby is closed by a water tight cover 2, which turns on a hinge 3 fixed to the con struction of the boat. The guide 4: is connected in any suitable manner with either hand operating gear or an air cylinder, not shown. A. rod 5 of the operating gear is connected to one arm 6 of a bell-crank lever, fitted on avertical shaft 7 which turns in bearings S on the torpedo tube 1. The other arm 9 of the bell-crank lever is connected to one endoof a rod 10 the other end of which is connected at 11 to a lever 13 which is pivoted at one end on a fixed pin 12 at the mouth of the torpedo tube. The other end of the lever 13 is connected at 14: to one end of a bent lever 15 the opposite end of which is secured to a pin 16 on the cover 2.

As shown in Fig. 3 the vertical shaft 7 extends to underneath the torpedo tube and the same arrangement of levers as hereinbefore described is also fitted underneath the torpedo tube, a lever 17 corresponding to the arm 9 of the bell-crank lever 6, 9 being fitted on the shaft 7. Or if desirable the guide a and operating gear may be fitted under instead of above the torpedo tube, and the lever 17 above.

All levers and rods of the operating mechanism above as well as under the torpedo tubes are situated in one plane. The arrangement and form of the levers 13 and 15 is such that with closed tubes the turning points 16, 14 and 12 are in one straight line. In order to obtain proper closure of the cover in this position, pins 16 and 12 are made adjustable.

The vertical aXis 7 is preferably fitted between the torpedo tubes to prevent any constructional parts projecting outside the ship and is also fitted in such a way that inthe extreme open position of the cover shown in full lines in Fig. 4:, the arm 9 is in one line with the connecting rod 10.

As will be seen, when opening the cover a comparatively small force produced by the connecting rod 10 on the lever 13 causes the bent lever 15 to exert considerable pressure on the pin 16, while in the entirely open position of the cover the reaction of the cover cannot cause a turning moment on the shaft 7 so that the cover at the beginning of the movement requires but a small force, and that in the open position the reaction of the cover cannot be transmitted to the operating mechanism.

What we claim is 1- 1. In connection with torpedo tubes for submarines and the like, a torpedo tube the outer end of which is contoured so that it approximately follows the line of the vessel, a hinged cover for same, and mechanism controlling the movement of this cover such that with the cover in either the open or closedposition toggle action takes place so that no force can be transmittedrfrom the cover, as described.

:2. In connection'with torpedo tubes for submarines and the like, a torpedo tube the outer end of which is contoured so that it approximately follows the line of the vessel, a hinged cover for same, and mechanism controlling the movement of this cover such that with the cover in either the open or closed position any reaction from the cover goes through the center of one of the axes on which the mechanism turns and thus no movement can be transmitted from the cover,- as described.

3. In connection with torpedo tubes for submarines and the like, a torpedo tube the outer end of which is contoured so that it approximately follows the line of the ves sel, a hinged cover for same, operating gear within the vessel, a vertical shaft turning in bearings on the tube, levers on the upper 35 and lower ends of the shaft one connected to the operating gear and both connected each to a rod connected in turn to a lever one end of which is pivoted on a fixed pin at the mouth of the torpedo. tube, a bent lever to 40 one end of which the last mentioned lever is secured, and a pin on the cover to which the opposite end of the bent lever'is secured, the levers and rods of this mechanism both above and beneath the torpedo tube being all so in one plane, as described. 7

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARLEY FOTHERINGHAM HAY. GERRIT EKAMA.

\Vitnesses F. GAHRAUER, 7 M. VEEDI-IINGER.

Copies of this natent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

